Biopsychology in the Workplace

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Presentation on theme: "Biopsychology in the Workplace"— Presentation transcript:

2Biopsychology at WorkBiopsychology is a subfield of psychology that emphasizes the integration of human biology and psychology (body and mind together).This means considering:How the body functions physiologically and neurologicallyHow our mind and body operate together in sensation and perception, and responding to stimuli in the world around us

3Why Relevant in the Workplace?Workers are human beings and therefore also biological organismsWe all have complex brains and central nervous systems, which enable and complicate our day-to-day functioning:Biologically we may be able to explain body mechanisms that are associated with reward, pleasure, pain, memory, etc.Other psychological aspects also likely factor into how we react to stimuli in our environments

4Practicing BiopsychologyExpertise in biopsychology requires specialized training that most I-O psychologists do not have.Most good I-O graduate programs do provide at least one course in biological processes associated with human functioning (part of licensure preparation)It is also common to forge collaborations between I-O and neuropsychology or biology researchers when applying a biopsychological perspective to issues within work organizations

5Example TopicsSome researchers/practitioners of I-O are more likely than others to need familiarity with biopsychological factors and issues, including:Work-related stress and its effects on physical and psychological worker wellbeingWorker emotionsInfluence of work environment features on worker functioningReward and motivation

6Class DiscussionDo you find yourself more interested in biology or psychology? Why?What are the benefits of integrating a biological and psychological perspective when examining human functioning within organizations?What types of applied psychology topics are likely to involve biological and psychological components?